EPIC 10th

I just got back from my 10 year old trip! I went to NYC with my mom and dad- without my brother and sister!! We did so many AWESOME things- it was EPIC! Here's our weekend...

I was very excited about the trip- can you tell?!?

We stayed in Times Square at a hotel called "The Hotel @ Times Square"- they get right to the point. We didn't get there on Friday until late, so we got a good night's sleep so we could hit Manhattan in the morning. Saturday morning we headed to the Empire State Building first. It was SOOOO tall! We went up to the 86th floor and it was VERY windy! 

All of the cars looked like matchbox size on the street. We could see all parts of the city from the four sides of the building. We could see the Statue of Liberty, and she looked so small!

After that we headed to Times Square- what a place! There were characters and people everywhere! I got my picture with Elmo and Olaf- two of my favorites. 

 Then we went to the BIGGEST Toys 'R Us store I have ever seen! There was even a ferris wheel inside. We rode on the car that looked like the red and yellow car that little kids ride around in. 

 On Saturday afternoon we got to go to see The Lion King on Broadway. WOW! This show was spectacular! There were huge costumes of giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and elephants. They sang all of my favorite Lion King songs and the characters walked by our seats when they went on stage!

After the show we took a ride on the subway to see our old friend Marcy, she gives me lessons on how to move better.  

 Finally we headed to dinner. We went to Rockefeller Center and found a place called Bill's Bar and Burgers. In a city that never sleeps, I managed to catch a few winks during dinner- it had been a LONG day.

On Sunday, we got up early and headed to Central Park. On the way we stopped at the Today Show for a quick photo op!

It was a beautiful sunny day and we went to Bethesda Fountain. My mom helped me practice walking to the fountain.

We stopped by the M 'n M Store and got the coolest treat: M 'n M's with my name on them! I also put my brother and sister's names on them too. We got to pick the colors and push the big button to make them! 

They even had a computer that told you what kind of M 'n M you were. It told me I was purple!

After that we had to pack up and head home. On our way out of NY we stopped at my mom's old roommate's office where they run a "School of Rock"! It was so cool- they had tons of instruments and practice rooms!

We finally made it home on Sunday night and I was beat! I had so much fun hanging with my mom and dad!

Hello 4th Grade!

This post is dedicated to my new class! I want to introduce myself to you all. My name is Kai and I am 9 years old. I know that I am probably older than most of you- and that's because I am really in 4th grade! I am also in Mrs. Johnson's class and will stay at Ezra Baker until 5th grade. I'm going to miss some of my friends who went on to Wixon School this year, but I am so glad to be back in Mr. Kliment's class again!

I know some of you might have some questions about me because I have some differences, but I want you to know that I am also similar to you in many ways.  I have a condition called cerebral palsy because when I was born I had a hard time breathing and that hurt the "computer" in my head. Now it is really hard for me to do things that most of you can do easily- like walk, talk, and move. I also have a little difficulty seeing. I use this chair to help me get around and other people help me get what I need. But some things you may not know, are that I like to have friends talk and read to me. I really love music and swimming. I love animals too, and go horseback riding every weekend. I really love to go on my swing at home and ride a bike specially made for me. 

I have a younger brother and a younger sister named Liam and Addy. I live with my mom and Dad too. My mom writes this blog with me, and we usually write more often, but we have had a busy summer. Do you want to know what we did this summer? Here are some highlights...

Here I am with my favorite "shark" in front of the library in Chatham. We went here on the first weekend after school ended to go to the band concert.

Here I am at the Heritage Gardens playing the xylophone in Hidden Hollow.

I'm waiting to get on the carousel at the Heritage Gardens.

Riding the carousel with friends!

Happy 4th of July! We had a great weekend going to the parade and watching fireworks.

My dad and I waiting for the parade to start.

The color guard- my Dad was in the Coast Guard and these guys are his friends.

Dinner on the beach, waiting for fireworks.

Dancing on the beach!

On the beach waiting for fireworks with friends.

We went to the drive-in to see Minions!

Our seats for the drive-in movie!

One of my favorite places to visit in the summer is Dream Day. It is a special camp. This year we did not get to stay overnight, but we went fishing and canoeing, did crafts and archery.

There is a great playground at Dream Day!

Getting ready to shoot the arrow during archery, with an adapted bow.

Making a bracelet with my mom.

Friends from my class with me at Dream Day!

Here I am at horse camp with my teacher, Leslie. This is Ziggy, I only ride him sometimes. Most of the time I ride Little Duke, who is a small pony- and he is brown. 

Of course summer is all about ice cream. Actually, I'm not a big fan of cold treats, so I get whipped cream instead!

We made a trip to visit the windmill and labyrinth  because for the summer reading program at the library we had to visit a monument in our town. Did you do the summer reading program at your library? It was all about HEROS!

My Dad and I walking the labyrinth.

We all made it to the middle!

We really wanted to go in- but not open today!

 My brother had his birthday party in July and it was a reptile party. There were all kinds of reptiles- a snake, tegu and even an alligator! 

Here is my brother and I with the alligator.

Dad and I holding a snake!

 At the end of the summer we drove all the way to Illinois to visit my Grandma and Grandpa. We visited with some of my mom's old friends too! We even went camping at Jellystone Park with Yogi Bear!

Here we are with Yogi

Meeting Cindy Bear

Making crafts with my mom at Jellystone

Old friends come to visit!

We went on a boat ride on the Fox River- here I am with my mom.

Here we are on the boat!

We also got to visit with some of our first and second cousins!

My mom took me for a bike ride on the Great Western Trail!

 After we went to Illinois we drove to Pennsylvania to visit my other Grandma and Grandpa. They live on a lake and have a boat that we got to go tubing on.

My mom and sister and me.

Dad and I swimming in Lake Meade.

On the boat with Grandpa Bob and Dad.

 It was a great summer! Can't wait until next year!

Honoring some special people...

This past Wednesday, my school district hosted an award's night for people who go above and beyond to support kids like me! It was called the Silver Dolphin Award. Some of my favorite people were nominated! I wanted to take a moment to honor them:

My teacher Ms. Tricia is THE BEST! She helps me everyday learn how to do new things. She always makes learning fun and lets us do lots of art and music in class. She always listens to me when things aren't going right. I'm so lucky to have had her as my teacher for the past three years! She was one of the "special honorees" at the ceremony!

My friend Andrew is so fun! He reads to me in class a lot- mostly Dr. Seuss books because he knows how much I like them. He will stand with me at assemblies and go out of his way to see if I'm ok. He even came to my birthday party last year! I will miss him next year when we are at different schools. This is a picture of him and Mr. Kliment, who is another one of my teachers. He is the teacher for Andrew's class and always makes me feel special and included in class. Everyday I get to share my news with the class.

This is Alexis, and her mom. She is a high school senior and is going to be a special education teacher someday. She comes over and helps me at home sometimes. She likes to play with me and reads me lots of books!

My other friend Erica was nominated, but she couldn't go to the ceremony. She also reads me lots of books and give me "air hugs" when she sees me at school! She is so fun to be around. Here we are at our field trip the lighthouses. 

My mom helped with the ceremony- I didn't get to go, but she said everyone felt very honored!